Health and our health information are deeply personal. Changing health care and inspiring positive health behaviors is hard to do. But we must and we will, a group of inspiring and inspired people who work across the health/care ecosystem affirmed this week in Dallas at the conference of Medecision Liberation 2019.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to strengthen the oversight of its Medicare hospice program to protect beneficiaries, according to a newly released report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Consumers’ adoption of apps and IoT devices can be hindered if there are concerns that using these tools poses a risk to privacy and security. Developers and provider organizations have taken note of these concerns and are ramping up security programs and initiatives.

Sensitive patient data may have been left exposed after employees of Sunspire Health fell victims to a targeted phishing campaign. Exposed information includes Social Security numbers and health insurance information.

The deal is yet another example of vertical integration in healthcare as healthcare companies look beyond their silos to acquire other businesses, forming alliances that can fill gaps in the care continuum.

Los Angeles-based Silver Lake Medical Center made headlines this week as they reached an agreement to pay a $550,000 settlement for dumping homeless patients at bus and train stations. Meanwhile in other news, Humana and private equity firms complete takeover of Kindred Healthcare.

The Pope is a public health advocate, evangelizing the importance of the social determinants of health for all humanity: clean water, clean and safe environment, food, good jobs, and social connections.